The hono is the part of the mihi that separates the living from the dead.

Stage 4 - Hono

It is important after acknowledging the mate and they have been farewelled
that you yourself return to be with the living. The following samples are
various ways of doing this.

Te hunga mate ki te hunga
mate

The dead to the dead

Te hunga ora ki te hunga ora

The living to the living

Apiti hono, tatai
hono

The lines are joined

Te hunga mate ki te hunga
mate

The dead to the dead

Apiti hono, tatai
hono

The lines are joined

Te hunga ora ki te hunga ora

The living to the living

Apiti hono, tatai
hono

The lines are joined

Ratou te hunga mate ki a
ratou

Those the dead to them

Apiti hono, tatai
hono

The lines are joined

Tatou te hunga ora ki a
tatou

Us the living to us

Apiti hono, tatai
hono

The lines are joined

Ratou kua wehe atu ki te po

Those that have departed to the night

Apiti hono, tatai
hono

The lines are joined

Tatou e tu ana ki te ao

Us who stand in the light

Notes

This section is heard often today at the end of a mihi, although about 30 to
40 years ago, it was not common at the end. The way that the writer was taught
places it here, for the joining and separating of the two worlds. The Hono is
used to join the dead to the world of the dead so that we can carry on speaking
to the living without mixing the two worlds.

However, in the Maori World
there are many different ways of doing things and this is one way.